Just a Pinch of Magic

"Berry, you'll never guess what I just got!"

Berry Punch felt her mood improving already at the sound of her best friend's voice, though one look from her father told her she wouldn't be leaving the bar until she had finished with the order she was working on. It was Friday afternoon, after all, and this would be the busiest night of the week.

"Have a seat Colgate, I'll just finish up this drink order and I'll-"

"I got accepted to Manehatten University for their dentistry program! See, the letter just came this morning! Oh, isn't this exciting!"

Berry almost dropped the shaker she was working with on the floor before flying towards her friend. She gathered the younger unicorn in a tight embrace and began swinging her around.

"Oh, Colgate, that's wonderful news! Congratulations!" she exclaimed, "and Manehatten of all places, how wonderfully adventurous!"

"Berry Punch!" Whiskey Mac gave his oldest daughter a stern look, reminding her that she was on the clock and there was no special treatment for family employees.

Berry sighed and returned to her position behind the counter, where she recommenced the task at hand.

"Oh, I know!" Colgate Minuette continued, "they have such an exciting night life, and the theatre and the culture! I am so excited! Big Mackintosh says his little sister is living there right now, with his Aunt and Uncle Orange. He's given me their address - apparently the Oranges are 'sophisticated folk' who know everything there is to know about high society life in Manehatten, and he's pretty confident they'll happily give me a cultural tour of the city.

"And of course, there's the University. It's right in the heart of the city, and it has a wonderful academic standing. Princess Celestia rated it number one in Equestria for its Health Sciences program. I really can't believe I got in, can you? They turn sooo many ponies down, and to think little old me from Ponyville will be living in Manehatten and studying to be a dentist at the best University in Equestria! Oh, it’s absolutely a dream come true!"

Berry served the cocktail to the waiting customer, then went back to Colgate who was still talking eagerly about her acceptance. At some point she had pulled out the acceptance letter and was now waving it around jovially.

"Do you think the Colts will be hot? Oh, I bet they will be. Maybe I'll actually go on a date with somepony for the first time. Do you think that will happen, Berry? Do you think they'll mind that I come from a small town like Ponyville. Oh, I hope they don't."

"I'm sure everypony will be new to Manehatten, and there will be plenty of ponies from all over Equestria," Berry replied, "and there's sure to be a stallion there who'll like you. I'm sure there are plenty of stallions right here in Ponyville who like you, but are just too shy to say something to a bubbly pony like you. Maybe they just need some encouragement."

"Do you really think so, Berry Punch? Was Cherry Cola shy when he asked you out?"

"No," Berry Punch said with a chuckle, "Cherry was never shy. He stood up in the middle of a goddamn year assembly and asked me out in front of the entire grade. I have never been so completely humiliated in all my life, and it was the bravest thing I've ever seen anypony do."

"Wow," said Colgate, clearly not sure what to make of Berry's mixed response. Berry just smiled.

"Speaking of Cherry Cola, I have some pretty exciting news myself," Berry's voice lowered to a whisper, "but you have to promise you can keep a secret."

"Of course I can. Cross my heart and hope to fly," Colgate replied, leaning closer to Berry Punch, who was double-checking to make sure her father had gone to the back room.

"Last night, Cherry proposed! We're getting married!"

The blue unicorn squealed, drawing the attention of every pony in the building. Berry Punch stuck one of her hooves in the younger pony's mouth.

"Oh my gosh, Ber, that's wonderful! When? Who else knows?"

"Nopony, and we haven't decided yet. It's not going to be a grand affair or anything. We both want to keep it simple enough, can't afford the bits and all that. But it'll be soon, before we get too far into Summer for sure. We're waiting until after Mom's foal is born before we start organizing everything, though."

Colgate was practically bouncing up and down like a bunny on a trampoline. She really was trying hard not to betray her friend's secret, but her excitement refused to be concealed.

"Berry Punch, need I remind you that it's Friday night?" Whiskey Mac was standing in the doorway to the kitchen, staring at his daughter sternly.

"Yes, I know," Berry muttered. "I gotta go, we should definitely catch up later," she said to her friend.

The overexcited unicorn calmed down enough to realize what Berry was hinting at. "We totally should! There's a new Café in town, Shamrock I think it's called. Lunch on Sunday, then?"

"Sure - make it one o'clock, though. I can't guarantee I'll be out of bed by twelve on a Sunday."

Colgate laughed. "Haha, sounds good. I'll see you then, Ber! Bye, Whiskey Mac," she called , leaving the bar.

Margarita came downstairs just in time to see the overexcited unicorn hurry out the door. "What's got her so wound up?" she asked the mulberry mare.

Berry froze for a moment. Should she tell her sister? One look at her father told her that no, she shouldn't - not here and now anyways. She then felt stupid for panicking when she realized Colgate had been riled up for more than one reason. "She got accepted into M.U."

"Say what now?"

"Manehatten University."

"Wow!" Margarita exclaimed, "remind me to congratulate her next time I see her."

"GIRLS! Quit lollygagging and get to work," Whiskey Mac hollered from the kitchen. "Margarita, come help me with these Potatoes."

The sisters exchanged sympathetic glances before carrying on with their assignments. A small group of customers had just entered the store and Berry immediately felt tired. It was going to be a long night.

***

“We’re closing in ten minutes, Mr. Avium.”

It was the end of a busy Saturday night, about three A.M. Sunday morning on the day after Colgate announced her acceptance at MU, and Berry was wiping down tables in the lounge. Though she was usually happy to see her future father-in-law, tonight she just wanted to go upstairs and sleep until noon.

“I won’t be long, Berry Punch. And please, call me Wilder,” the burgundy stallion took a seat at one of the tables and looked around the empty lounge. “Are your parents around?” he asked.

Berry shook her head. “Father went to bed an hour ago. I’m the only one up right now. Can I help you?”

“I should ask you the same question. Are you not aware that my son told me about your, erm, situation?”

Berry’s head jerked up, her eyes widening. Yes, she was well aware, and unsure how she felt about it. What she did know was that she was certainly not in the mood to discuss this now.

“I am,” she replied, stiffly.

“So,” Wilder prompted. “How are you, Berry Punch?”

His green eyes, full of love and compassion though they were, unnerved her - they seemed to be peering right into her. She shifted awkwardly, unsure of how to answer. “I’m fine,” she said flatly, “I hardly feel any different.”

“That’s good, then. Are you taking care of yourself?” the stallion continued.

Berry threw down her rag and turned to face Wilder squarely. “What are you doing here, Mr. Avium?” she asked, outright.

But the other pony just shrugged, “I couldn’t sleep, so I figured I’d come see how you’re faring. Are you sleeping enough? Drinking plenty of water? I know there aren’t many ponies you can talk to about this right now.”

Well, that was true. Cherry and his father were the only ponies in town who knew, though she had considered telling Margarita a few times, and she planned on discussing it with Colgate tomorrow. Later today. Whatever. Berry picked up her rag and headed towards the counter to grab the mop and bucket.

“Yes, I’m fine sir. I’ve even stopped drinking, if you can imagine that.”

Wilder chuckled at this news. “I’ll bet that’s raised a few suspicions.”

Berry blushed. She had proven to herself that she was no alcoholic, but that didn’t mean she never got drunk. Every so often she would put on a bit of a performance, and her drunken antics were relatively well-known around Ponyville. She could just imagine the town gossips wondering why Berry Punch hadn’t gotten drunk and paraded through town singing about perfect frogs and prancing gazelles recently.

“Yeah, well, mother managed to do so for all of us, so I figured if she could, anypony could. Let them speculate if they must."

Wilder smiled at this remark. “You are doing well, Berry Punch. I must say, both of you are doing a fine job of handling this situation as adults, and I am confident that you will make wonderful parents. How have your doctor visits been?”

“Well,” Berry hesitated, “to be honest, sir, I haven’t been to a proper doctor’s appointment yet.”

“Why ever not, my dear?”

Berry just shrugged. “Nerves, I guess. I’m anxious that people will see me at Dr. Ciconia’s and ask my parents about it. And then there’s the cost of prenatal care.” She concentrated on an especially difficult floor stain, and scrubbed vigorously with her mop.

“Perhaps I could speak to Dr. Ciconia. She’s a lovely mare you know, really cares about everypony and often goes above and beyond the call of duty.

Fine, sure, whatever, Berry thought. She had by now finished mopping the floor, and was really getting eager to finish her closing tasks so she could go upstairs to bed. She didn’t really want Wilder to keep fussing over her, but even moreso at this present time, she wanted him out of the bar so she could finish closing and lock up.

“Wilder, I really appreciate all the trouble you’re going to for me, and your concern is touching, but it’s after three and we’re closed, so I really need to ask you to leave. I should get plenty of rest and all that, right?”

Wilder nodded agreeably, “of course, how thoughtless of me. I’ll get right out of your way. And rest assured, Berry Punch, I’ll speak to Dr. Ciconia about getting you the necessary prenatal care.”

“Yes, fine, I’ll see you later Wilder,” Berry muttered, ushering the older pony out the front door.

“Now,” she said to herself, “to get my work done so I can go to bed.”

***

Thursday afternoon, Cherry barged through the door to the Cocktail family's bar. He gave Whiskey Mac a quick nod before rushing up the stairs to the bedroom Berry Punch shared with her sister.

Margarita was gone to school, but the mulberry-coloured mare was still fast asleep when Cherry jumped on her. She wanted to groan and kick the intruder off her back, but when she opened her eyes and looked at her fiancée's comical expression, she found herself laughing instead.

"Sweet Celestia, Cherry, what are you doing here?" she asked when the laughter subsided.

"You have to hurry, Berry. Come with me!" he exclaimed, grabbing her hoof and pulling her out of bed.

"Wait, Cher, I have to do my mane!"

"It looks lovely, Berry - I'm telling you, crimping it is a waste of time and effort," Cherry moaned, pushing her towards the door.

"But Cherry, it's the latest thing! Everypony's wearing their hair like that!"

"You're not everypony, Berry, you're my pony. I like your natural style better - it looks, um, juicier."

"Jucier? My mane looks juicy? Is that supposed to be a compliment, Cherry Cola," Berry demanded.

"Yes, it is. Now come on, girl, we're keeping her waiting. When will you learn to get up before noon like everypony else?"

The couple clamoured down the stairs and out the back door of the bar.

"When I no longer have to work until two in the morning every night," Berry Punch muttered.

Cherry laughed as he practically dragged her down the street towards his apartment.

"When are you going to tell me what's going on?" Berry managed to ask, her rear hooves dragging in the dirt as she struggled to stay upright.

"You'll see! Oh, Berry, I am so excited about this."

"Clearly!"

Sooner than Berry could believe it possible, Cherry opened the door to the upstairs apartment and led Berry into the living room. There, much to Berry's astonishment, was Ponyville's one and only obstetrician, Dr. Delilah "Delly" Ciconia.

"I hope you don't mind us meeting like this, Berry Punch. Wilder told me about your anxieties, and we decided it was time I got back into the habit of making house calls," she was saying. Her various instruments were spread out on the coffee table before her, her empty saddlebags leaning against a chair. She now motioned to the sofa with a bright smile, and asked Berry Punch to take a seat.

She was taller than most Unicorns, and appeared rather lanky. She had a pale blue coat and her short and choppy mane was an orange-brown. Her cutie mark featured a stork - a great, white bird with black on the tips of its wings, and carrying a tied up bundle, presumably containing a baby foal. Her big brown eyes were warm and welcoming, and Berry Punch couldn't help but feel comfortable in her presence.

She asked Berry numerous questions about her well-being as she puttered around the small room, making light chatter just to set Berry Punch at ease it seemed. She checked Berry's heart rate and blood pressure, then she checked for the baby's heart beat.

"Don't be alarmed if I can't find it, Berry. It's sometimes hard to find up until the 12th week, and we're only in week ten," Delly was saying. She concentrated as she magically glided the small gadget over Berry's belly, using her horn to both power and manoeuvre the device. Then she smiled, "I've got it, kiddo."

Telekinetically, she gave Berry and Cherry each a set of headphones that was connected to the gizmo. Eagerly, they took hold of the small earbuds and closed their eyes. It was faint, sure, but it was unmistakably a small heart beating at a rate twice as quick as any heart they'd heard.

Cherry's face was etched with concern. "Isn't that a bit, um, quick?"

The doctor smiled, "not for a fetus. It's quicker than average, but not nearly to the point where we need to be concerned."

She placed the gadget back on the table beside her and made some notes on her clipboard. "Everything's looking wonderfully healthy, Berry Punch. I can tell you're taking good care of yourself. You know, times are changing for the better, and the two of you are a prime example of it."

The couple exchanged curious glances before Cherry spoke.

"What do you mean?" he asked.

"I mean the stigma is dissolving. More and more young, unmarried couples are having children, and doing so with pride. It means I can take better care of unborn foals that would otherwise be neglected. I know you two haven't told many ponies, but just seeing that you're actually caring for your child shows me that you want this baby regardless of who might oppose you. That takes great courage, Berry Punch."

Berry blushed at the compliment. She had never seen herself as courageous before. Though, truth be told, she hadn't consciously decided to care for her child. It just came natural to her. It would be her job, as a mother, to love and care for the foal for the rest of her life, and she was just doing what needed to be done.

"Thank you, Dr. Ciconia," Berry murmured. Cherry wrapped his foreleg around her, beaming with pride.

"That's my girl, Berry," was all he said.